Method and apparatus for unloading high-explosive shells



.May 6 1924.

T. F. KNIGHT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLSFiled March 28, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 6, 1924. 1,492,922

T. F. KNIGHT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLSFiled March 28. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/11 1111 lfi IN VEN TOR 05lIIIIIlIIIIII/I/l/I/I/ A TTORNE Y;

May 6 .1924. 1,492,922

T. F. KNIGHT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLSFiled March 28, 1 92s 5 Sheets-Sheet .5

ZZ F59- 6: v "a B 710 1] 12 in 6 7 ii 5 ii I 9 INVENTOR Thomas/Twit MQLMATTORNE Y5 Patented May 6, 1924.

THOMAS E. KNIGHT, 0F LYNDHURST, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO CODUMBIA,SALVAGE FFHC CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADDTG HIG-H-EXPLOSIVE SHEIIILS.

Application filed March 28, 1928. Serial No. 628,321.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, THoMAs F. KNIGHT, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and resident of Lyndhurst. in the county of Bergen and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methodsand Apparatus for Unloading High-Explosive Shells (Case No. 2), of whichthe following is a specification.

The main object of this invention is to provide a new and useful methodand apparatus for unloading high explosive shells and separating andrecovering the materials forming the high explosive charge. It isnecessary that the entire high-explosive charge be removed fromtheshells in order that the empty shells may be safely melted or reducedin a blast furnace or otherwise. These shells are of high quality steeland are valuable provided the explosive charge is entirely removed. henthe high explo sive charge is a mixture of several dilferent kinds ofmaterials it is desirable to separate those materials after the chargehas been removed from the shell, in order to render such materialsseparately available for commercial purposes.

A high-explosive shell for artillery use consists, ordinarily,'of ahollow steel shell filled with a charge of high explosive. The

I shell is usually pointed at one end, and said pointed end is known asthe nose. In the nose is formed a longitudinally extending threadedaperture in. which is screwed a flanged adapter ring, said ring carryinga booster casing which extends into the shell and contains the so-calledbooster charge. The fuse, or fuse stock, is screwed into the adapterring and this also carries asmall charge of explosive within the boostercasing. A great many of these high explosive shells Amatol is a mixtureof ammonium nitrate and trinitrotoluol (TNT) in proper proportions. Itis fiuid or semi-fluid at certain temperatures and may be readily pouredinto the shell. It cools and solidifies within the shell and becomes asubstantiallysolid mam of material which completely fills the entireshell except fora small space at the nose, which is designed to receivethe a and ammonium nitrate.

are charged with amatol..

booster casing. Other similar high explosives are used, such as pureTNT. The mam purpose of this invention is to provide a method andapparatus for safely, completely and quickly removing the amatol fromthe shells and separating it int TNT The process is also adapted for usein removing TNT and other similar high explosive charges from shells.

In-the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus for carrying outthe'invention;

Fig. 2 a vertical sectional View of the apparatus taken substantially onthe line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a vertical sectional view of ahigh explosive shell showing thebooster and the adapter in position therein;

Fig. 4 a vertical sectional view of a shell with the booster and adapterremoved;

Fig. 5 a detail vertical sectional view of a portion of the tank forsupplying hot wa ter to the apparatus;

Fig. 6 a transverse vertical sectional view showing the chargedissolvingapparatus connected to two shells, a portion ofthe apparatus being shownin side elevation; and

Fig. 7 a detail sectional view showing the beginning of thecharge-dissolving operation.

In carrying out this invention the adapter and the booster are firstremoved from the nose of the shell. The shell is then in the conditionillustrated in Fig. 4 and access may be had to its interior through thethreaded hole in its nose. The adapter ring and the booster casing maybe removed in any suitable manner, but perferably 'by a suitableapparatus arranged in a tank 1. From this booster-removing apparatus theshells are delivered to the apparatus for removing the explosive charge.This apparatus consists of a platform or support 2 on which the shellsare placed. The shells are preferably set up on their bases with theiropen ends uppermost. The platform is provided with two longitudinallyextending troughs 3 which incline downwardly toward-the front end of theplatform and deliver into a cross-trough 4. The trough 4: isprovidedwith a spout 5- which delivers up through the discharge nozzle andentercoils 24.

ing the lateral branch 8 will be discharged into the trough 3. Into thetop of the discharge nozzle 7 is screwed the lower end of a verticallyextending tubular guide casing 10. Sliding freely through the guidecasing and the discharge nozzle are two long, slender, verticallyarranged nozzles 11 and 12, the lower ends of said nozzles beingprovided with apertures through which jets of fluid under pressure passboth laterally and downwardly. These nozzles are adapted to be passedthrough the guide casing and the discharge nozzle, their lower endsengaging the solid portion of the charge within the shell, substantiallyas illustrated in Fig. 7,. The nozzle 12 delivers a jet of hot waterinto the shell and the nozzle'11' delivers a jet of heated compressedair into the shell; and the nozzles are connected together so as tomaintain their perforated ends close together throughout the entireoperation of unloading the shell.

A hot-water'pipe 13 and a compressed-air pipe 14 are arrangedlongitudinally over each trough 3, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. Thehot-water pipe is provided with valved connections 15.-to each of whichis connected a flexible hose 16, the lower end of said flexible hosebeing connected to the upper end of one of the hot-water nozzles T2.

The compressed-air ipe is provided with valved connections l to each ofwhich is connected a flexible hose.18, the lower end of which isconnected to one of the air nozzles 11. The air pipes 14 are connectedto an air compressor 19. The hot-water pipes 13 are closed at their rearends and their forward ends open into a water-heating tank 20 so thathot water will flow from the said tank through the pipes 13 and thenceto the water nozzles 12. Centrally arranged in each of the hot waterpipes 13 is a steam pipe 21 whose rear end is connected to a steamgenerator 22 by means of a pipe connection 23. The forward ends of thesteam pipes 21 enter the water-heating tank 20 and connect with 'coils24 arranged near the bottom thereof. It is manifest, therefore, thatsteam will pass from the generator through the pipes 21' and thenthrough the By this means the water will be highly heated before itpasses to. the water nozzles. It is clear from the drawings that thehot-water pipes and the hot-air pipes are provided with valvedconnections for each shell arranged along the sides of the troughs 3. A.great many shells may be simultaneously treated by an apparatus arrangedand constructed in this manner. The air from the compressor 19 is heatedby means of a steam drum 25 which surrounds the air pipe leading fromthe compressor 19 to the pipes 14. It will, of course, be understoodthat the compressed air may be heated in any suitable manner before itis delivered to the air nozzles 11. The purpose of heating thecompressed air is to prevent any cooling effect within the shells.

After the shells have been placed in upright positions along the sidesof the troughs 3 and the discharge nozzles 7 have been screwed into theopenings in the points of the shells, the air and water nozzles aredropped down through the guide casings '10. The lower ends of thesenozzles rest on the solid charge within the shell. The valves in thepipes 15 and 17 are then opened. Hot water will flow through theapertures in the end of each water nozzle 12 and com ressed airwillfiovg through each air nozz e 11. The air, preferably, will beheated to a high temperature and the water is heated to a point justbelow boiling point; approximately 190 F. The water moistens and heatsthe solid charge within the shell. The compressed air agitates the waterand causes it to swirl around within the shell and in contact with thesolid charge. The combined action of the hot water and the compressedair results in softening and liquefying the charge. The flow of waterand I air into the shell will cause a discharge through the branch orover-flow pipe 8 and thence through the hose 9 into the trough 3. As thematerial dissolves and is washed out of the shell the air and waternozzles will automatically, by gravity, move downward- 1y into theshell. These nozzles are long and s ender and as they are directeddownwardly at the center of the charge they will quickly cut their waydown through the mass to the bottom of the shell (see Figs. 6 and 7).Thiscutting action is due to the downwardly and the laterally directedjets from the points of said nozzles. The cutting action of the nozzleswill produce a passage through the charge at the center thereof and thewater and air being delivered at the bottom of this passage will flowupwardly through it to the discharge nozzle. This upward flow of the hotwater and air will dissolve and carry out of the shell the exlosivecharge and said material will be deivered in li uid form into thetroughs 3. The flow of ot water and compressed air is continued untilthe shell is clear of solid matter. This may be readily determined bynoting the heating of the exterior of the shell. -It has been found inpractice that when the exterior of the shell is hot midway the endsthereof the charge has been entirely dissolved. When the-shells areclear of the solid charge the air and water nozzles are removed and thedischar e nozzles 7 are disconnected from the shel s. After the nozzles7 are disconnected the shells are emptied into one of the troughs 3.

It is important to deliver the compressed air within the shell with thehot water. The jets of air keep the solution agitated in the shell andthereby assist materially in dissolving the charge. The fiow ofcompressed air also assists in forcing the liquid solution out of theshell and thereby keeps up a constant circulation and prevents theheavier parts of the solution settling to the bottom of the shell.

The material discharged from the trough 4 is very hot and consists ofwater, ammonium nitrate solution and TNT in solution. From this troughthe mixture is discharged through the spout 5 into the separating 'andrecovery tanks by means of which the TNT is separated from the ammoniumnitrate solutlon.

The means for separating the liquid TNT from the ammonium nitratesolution comprises a settling tank 6 which receives the solution fromthe spout 5. This, tank is provided with vertical bafile plates 26 overand under which the material will flow from the inlet to the outletspout 27. A heating coil 28 is arranged near'the bottom of this tank andsaid coil receives steam from the generator 22. The liquid TNT is ofgreater specific gravity than the ammonium nitrate solution and waterand will drop to the bottom of the tank 6 where it is maintained inliquid form by the heat from the steam coil 28. The tank 6 is providedwith discharge pipes 29 which enter the tank at,

the bottom thereof and through which the liquid TNT may be dischargedinto boxes ,30. These boxes are preferably arranged on a suitableconveyor 31 so that when filled they may be readily removed from underthe discharge pipes.

The over-flow spout 27 is arranged at the top of the settling tank 6 andthe ammonium nitrate will over-flow through said spout 27 into a tank32. Because of the quantity of hot water used in dissolving theexplosive charges from the shells the ammonium nitrate solution passingto tank 32 in the beginning of the operation of the apparatus will beweak, or not sufliciently strong for ordinary commercial purposes. -Thisweak solution is withdrawn from the tank 32 by means of the pump 33 andis forced back through pipes 34 and 35 into the heating tank 20. Fromthe tank 20 it will pass again through the shells. When the ammoniumnitrate solution in tank 32 is of sufiicient strength valve 36 in pipe35 is closed and valve 37 in pipe 38 is opened to permit the pump todeliver the ammonium nitrate solution into the large storage tank 39.From this tank it may be removed by pump 40 or in any other suitablemanner. It is intended that the ammonium nitrate solution delivered intothe storage tank 39 shall be of suflicient strength for commercialpurpores, or, if desired, it may be again treated by any of thewell-known methods for precipitating or throwing down the ammoniumnitrate crystals. It will, of course, be understood that the water tank20 may be supplied with water in any suitable manner. The TNT finallydischarged into the boxes ;30 will become substantially solidwhen cooledand will be suitable for commercial purposes without further treatment.The shells are completely emptied and cleaned of the explosive charge sothat they may be safely transported, stored or melted down.

What I claim is:

1. The method of removing a high explosive charge from a containerconsisting in directing hot water and air under pressure into saidcontainer and permitting the hot water and air to dissolve or liquefythe material and to force the liquid from the container. t

2. The method of removing a high explosive charge from a containerconsisting in subjecting the charge to heat and moisture and to a jet offluid under pressure, the pressure fluid being in addition to the meansfor supplying heat and moisture.

3. The method of removing a hi h explosive charge from a containerconsisting in directing hot water into the shell to heat and moisten thecharge, and simultaneously directinginto the shell a fluid underpressure to agitate the material within the shell, the supply of waterand the fluid under pressure being maintained and serving to force theliquid from the container.

4. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shellconsisting in placing the shell upright on its base, attaching adischarge nozzle to the open nose at the point of the shell, directing ajet of hot 7 water downwardly into the said shell through said dischargenozzle to heat, moisten and dissolve the charge, and simultaneouslydirecting a jet of fluid under pressure through said discharge nozzleinto the shell to agitate and swirl around the liquid within the shell,the supply of hot water and fluid under pressure being maintained tocause the liquid material within the shell to flow out throu h thedischarge nozzle.

5. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shellconsisting in placing the shell upright on its base, attaching adischarge nozzle to the open nose at nozzle and a compressed-air nozzlethrough the discharge nozzle and into contact with the mass within theshell, causing hot water to flow continuously through said hot-waternozzle into the shell, and simultaneously causing compressed air to flowthrough the compressed-air nozzle into the shell whereby the hot waterWlll heat, moisten and dis- I solve the explosive charge and thecompressed air will-cause the liquid within the shellto-swirl around andthereby assist in dissolving the charge, the supply of hot water andcompressed air being continued whereby the liquid within the shell willbe forced out through the discharge nozzle.

6. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shellconsisting in placing the shell upright on its base, attachin adischarge nozzle to the open nose at the point of the shell, inserting ahot-water nozzle and a compressed-air nozzle through the dischargenozzle and into contact with the mass within the shell, causing hotwater to flow continuously through the hot-water nozzle into the shelland simultaneously causing compressed air to flow continuously throughthe compressed-air nozzle into the shell whereby the hot water will beagitated and swirled around within the shell by the compressed air andwill heat, moisten and dissolve the explosive charge and force it inliquid form out through the discharge nozzle, and causing the water andair nozzles to move downwardly in the shell as the mass is dissolved andforced out of the shell.

7. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shellconsisting in placing the shell upright on its base with the open noseat the point of the shell uppermost, inserting a hot-water nozzle and acompressed-air nozzle through the open nose and into contact with themass within the shell, causing hot water to flow continuously throughthe hot-water nozzle into the shell and simultaneously causingcompressed air to flow continuously through the compressed-air nozzleinto the shell whereby the hot water will be agitated and swirled aroundwithin the shell by the compressed air and will heat, moisten anddissolve theexplosive charge and force it in liquid form out through thedischarge nozzle, and causing the' water and air nozzles to movedownwardly in the shell as the mass is dissolved and forced out of theshell.

a 8. The method .of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shellconsisting in placing the shell upright on its base, attaching adischarge nozzle to the open nose at the point of the shell, inserting along slender hot-water nozzle and a long slender compressed-air nozzlethrough the discharge nozzle and into contact with the charge within theshell, causing hot ,water to flow passage in the charge,

through the hot-water nozzle and simultaneously causing compressed airto flow through the compressed-air nozzle, whereby the hot water andcompressed air will first cut a causing the said two nozzles to movedown in said passage as it is cut, and continuing the flow of hot waterand compressed air until the entire charge is dissolved or liquefied,the water and air forcing the liquid material out through the dischargenozzle.

9. The method of removing a solidified charge from a shell consisting inplacing the shell upright on its base with the open -nose. at the pointof the shell uppermost,

inserting a long slender hot-water nozzle and along slendercompressed-air nozzle through the open nose and into contact with thecharge within the shell, causing hot water to flow through the hot-waternozzle and simultaneously causing compressed air to flow through thecompressed-air nozzle, whereby the hot water and the compressed air willfirst cut a passage in the charge, causing the said two nozzles to movedown into said passage as it is cut, and continuing the flow of hotwater and compressed air until the entire charge is dissolved or lique-.

fied, the water and air forcing the liquid material out through the opennose.

10. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shellconsisting in placing the shell upright on its base with the open noseat the point of the shell uppermost, inserting a hot-water nozzle and acompressed-air nozzle through the open nose and into contact with themass within the -'shell, causing hot water to flow continuously throughthe'hot-water nozzle into the shell and simultaneously causing heatedcompressed air to flow continuously through the compressed-air nozzleinto the shell where by the hot water will be agitated and swirledaround within the shell by the compressed air and will heat, moisten anddissolve the explosive charge and force it in liquid form out throughthe discharge nozzle, and cansing the water and air nozzles to movedownwardly in the shell as the mass is dissolved and forced out of theshell.

11. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shellconsisting in placing the shell upright on its base with the open noseat the point of the shell uppermost, inserting a hot-water nozzle and acompressed-air nozzle through the open nose and into contact with themass within the shell, causing hot water to flow continuously throughthe hot-water nozzle into the shell and simultaneously causingcompressed air to flow continuously through the compressed-air nozzleinto the shell whereby the hot water will be agitated and swirled aroundwithin the shell by the compressed air and will heat, moisten anddissolve the a solidified explosive charge made up of TNT and ammoniumnitrate, consisting in liquefying said charge by directing into saidshell a jet of hot water and a jet of compressed air, the said jetsreducing the charge to ammonium nitrate solution with TNT in liquid formin said solution, then placing the liquefied TNT and ammonium nitratesolution in a settling tank or container and maintaining the solution insaid tank at a 7 high temperature and drawing of? the- TNT from thebottom of said settling tank, the

ammonium nitrate solutionflowing from the top of said settling tank andinto a second tank, and then removing the ammonium nitrate solution fromthe second tank and passing it back through the shell to increase thestrength of the ammonium nitrate solution.

14. An apparatus for liquefying and removing a solidified explosivecharge from a shell, comprising a dischar e nozzle adapted to beconnected to the s ell at the open end thereof, a water nozzle extendingthrough said discharge nozzle and ada ted to extend into the shell, acom resse -air nozzle extending through the disc arge nozzle and adaptedto extend into the shell, means for supplying hot water to the waternozzle, and means for supplying cempressed air to the air nozzle.

15. An apparatus for liquefying and removing a solldified explosivecharge from a shell, comprising a dischar e noz'zleadapted to beconnected to the end thereof, a hot-water nozzle extending through thedischarge nozzle and ada ted to extend into the shell, a compress -airnozzle extending through the said discharge nozzle and adapted to extendinto the s both 'of said nozzles being adapted to move to the bottom ofthe shell, means for supplying hot water to the water nozzle, and meansfor supplying compressed air to the air nozzle.

16. An. apparatus for lique inghmd removing a solidified explosive carge from a I shell, comprising a discharge nozzle adapted to be securedin an opening in the nose of the shell and having a. lateral dischargebranchabove the shell,a tubular guide casi'ng cbnnected-to saiddischarge nozzle, a

ell at the 0 en long slender hot-water nozzle adapted to slide freelythrough the guide casing and extending through the discharge nozzle toadapt it to enter" the shell, a long slender compressed-air nozzleadapted to slide freely through the guide casing and extending throughthe discharge nozzle to adapt it to enter the shell, said two nozzlesbeing provided with apertures at their free ends, means for supplyinghot water to the water nozzle, and means for supplying compressed air,tothe air nozzle.

17. An apparatus for liquefying and re-' moving a solidified explosivecharge from a shell, comprising a vertical discharge nozzle adapted tobe secured in an opening in the nose of the shell and having a lateraldischarge branch, a vertical tubular guide casing connected to the upperend of said.

discharge nozzle, a long slender vertically arranged hot-water nozzleadapted to slide freely downwardly through the guide casing and thedischarge nozzle, 2. long slender vertically arran ed compressed-airnozzle adapted to slide eel downwardly through the guide casing an thedischarge nozzle whereby said two nozzles will automatically move.downwardly into the shell as the charge therein is liquefied, saidnozzles bein provided with apertures at their lower en s, means forsupplying hot water to the water nozzle, and means for supplyingcompressed air to the air nozzle.

18. An apparatus for liquefying and removin a solidified explosivecharge from a she 1, comprising a discharge nozzle adapted to beconnected'to the shell at the open end thereof, a fluid pressure nozzleextending through said dischar nozzle and adapted to slide therethrougand extend into the shell and to be moved therein to the bottom of theshell, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid guidecasing connected to said discharge nozzle, a lon slender fluid pressurenozzle adapted to side freely through the guide casing and extendingvthrough the discharge nozzle to adapt it to enter the shell, said fluidpressure nozzle being ,,provided with apertures at its freeendf andmeans for supplyin fluid under pressure to the outer end of t e fluidpressure nozzle.

20. An apparatus for liquefying and removing a solidified explosivecharge from a shell, comprising a vertical discharge nozzle adapted tobe secured inan openin in the nose of the shell and having a lateradischarge branch, a vertical tubular guide ill casing connected to theupper end of said discharge nozzle, a long slender vertically arran edfluid pressure nozzle adapted to slide reely downwardly through theguide 5 casing and the discharge nozzle to adapt it to move into theshell as the charge therein is liquefied said fluid pressure nozzlebeing provided with apertures at its lower end, and means for suppl ingfluid under pressure to the outer en of the fluid pressure 10 nozzle.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix mv signature.

' THOMAS F. KNIGHT.

